Fluorite (twin) with Galena (old classic) (ex Kay Robertson Collection)

Item Description

The Sedling Mine in Weardale is one of the lesser known specimen producers dating back to 1818. I've only seen a handful of Fluorites from this locality, and this particular piece might be the best one in terms of crystal size and quality. A predominant, very sharp, interpenetrant twin of attractive purple Fluorite sits proudly atop a matrix composed of massive lilac Fluorite with associated steel-grey colored Galena crystals. The luster is slick and vitreous on every face of the twin. The larger of the two Fluorites on the twin measures 3.0 cm on edge. The smaller of the two crystals is actually quite gemmy and shows good internal color. There are some imperfections, so the piece is not 100% pristine, but it's a remarkably good example for the locality, and no Weardale Fluorite suite would be complete without adding this attractive full-sized miniature with a textbook large twin. Ex Kay Robertson Collection (#511). Kay is a prominent California collector, who specialized in European classics (see the article in the March-April, 2007 Mineralogical Record and the 50+ page article in the German Magazine "Mineralien Welt" November-December 2017).